Duelist (2005 film)
| Duelist | |
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Original Korean poster
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| Hangul | |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Hyeongsa |
| McCune–Reischauer | Hyǒngsa |
| Directed by | Lee Myung-se |
| Produced by | Lee Myung-se Yoo Jeong-hee |
| Written by | Lee Myung-se Lee Hae-kyeong |
| Based on |
Damo Namsoon by Bang Hak-gi |
| Starring |
Ha Ji-won Kang Dong-won |
| Music by | Jo Seong-woo |
| Cinematography | Hwang Ki-seok |
| Edited by | Ko Im-pyo |
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Production
company |
Production M
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| Distributed by | Korea Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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111 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | US$6,324,945 |
Duelist (Hangul: 형사; RR: Hyeongsa; lit. "Detective") is a 2005 South Korean martial arts film directed by Lee Myung-se.
The movie opens with a fish tale narrated by a low-class metalsmith in a tavern in Joseon-era south-western Korea. The scene then cuts to a street circus, in which an elegant masked swordmaster (Kang Dong-won) fascinates his market-place audience. Undercover detective Ahn (Ahn Sung-ki), and his protégé Namsoon (Ha Ji-won) are tracking down suspected money-counterfeiter gang, when the masked swordmaster ends his show by killing a government official who carries the kingdom's currency metal cast.
The swordmaster escapes when a cart crashes and disgorges a mountain of counterfeit coins, causing public commotion. The distraction is a success, but Namsoon chased and dueled with the escaping swordmaster/duelist, proving herself a master of martial arts specializing in a pair of long knives. She succeeded in cutting a quarter of his mask and glanced at his revealed eye before he escaped. She and her team are left with bodies of the counterfeiting gang, seemingly massacred in an instant by an unknown duelist.
It is then revealed that counterfeit coins are spreading wildly among the populace, causing hyperinflation that threatens the monarchy. The police forces are determined to find and arrest the counterfeiters, believed to include an insider in the government. From a secret connection, the detectives obtain a picture of the duelist, noted for his "Sad Eyes", which Namsoon recognizes from her previous encounter. Their suspicion points to Song, the powerful defense minister. This suspicion is confirmed when Namsoon spots the duelist entering Song's manor.
Namsoon and Ahn failed to chase the duelist. However, as Namsoon is walking alone in the night, Sad Eyes appeared from the shadows, asking if she is following him "because you like me?" Namsoon attacks, entering a duel that starts to become affectionate. Eventually, he vanishes after making a small cut on her clothing, revealing her cleavage. The resolute Namsoon persuaded her team to infiltrate minister Song's palace. This plan is implemented, resulting with only Namsoon succeeding in her thinly-disguised appearance as a lady of pleasure. Coincidentally, she ends up having to serve the duelist in private, which she handles very tactlessly.
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